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Weekly Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Column

Sport fishing column for April 22 to 29, 2013

So far in this series of columns, we have covered the blessing of traditions and good habits, now I wish to address the other side, prejudices.

Yes, prejudices rears its head in sport fishing. We often see it the negative remarks passed back and forth over styles of fishing and fishing tackle used. The most evident prejudice though is in the area of fish species.

When children show their first interest in fishing, they are happy to catch anything, as long as the action is constant. As we grow older we develop our species preferences. These preferences are influenced by our peers, heroes, and our taste buds. Preferences are good prejudices are not.

Locally there was a time when it was believed that dolly varden were destroying our rainbow fishery. The result was indiscriminate devastation to dolly varden populations. It took years to bring them back. Chum and pink were regarded with disdain by stream fisherman before they were opened as a sport fish. Carp were maligned as were bass. As with rainbow trout, coho and chinook salmon; all fish have there fans and place in our sport fishery.

Like the fish they pursue, all anglers have valuable input, to contribute to our sport if we are willing to listen. The questions we need to ask ourselves before passing judgment are: Does that other person have the legal right to do what they are doing? Is that other person having fun? Does what he or she is doing work? If the answers are affirmative; keep your prejudices to yourself and leave them alone. The bottom line is this; sport fishing is about catching fish and having fun no matter how you do it.